How to Play Jacks

Jacks have been a favorite past time for children throughout the centuries. According to the Strong National Museum of Play, jacks were used to teach children eye/hand coordination in order for them to become better hunters.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A jacks set consisting of a small rubber ball and 10 jacks.
• Two or more people to play.

1. Sit on the floor and toss the jacks out in front of you. Begin by throwing the ball up in the air.

2. While the ball is in the air, pick up one jack very quickly with the hand you used to toss it. Do not let the ball bounce more than once before you catch it.

3. When you have caught the ball, set the first jack to one side. Continue tossing the ball and picking up jacks one at a time until you have picked up all ten. If you miss catching the ball, picking up a jack, or let the ball bounce more than once, you lose your turn to the next player. If you get all ten jacks picked up without missing, your turn continues.

4. You now throw the jacks out in front of you and begin picking them up two at a time. If you make any mistakes, such as letting the ball bounce more than once, miss picking up a jack or picking up the wrong number of jacks-your turn is over.

5. When your turn comes again, you must continue picking up the number of jacks that you were trying for when you made your last mistake. You cannot start picking up the jacks three at a time until you have picked up all the jacks two at a time (and so forth). The winner is the first to pick up all ten jacks at once.

6. When you have mastered picking up all ten at once, you can begin some more difficult ways of playing.
   
   To play "Pigs", shoot the jacks across the floor into a cup before catching the ball. This is done in the same sequence as the original game (all jacks one at a time, all jacks two at a time, etc.)

7. "Cherries in a Basket" is played by picking up a jack with one hand and putting it in the other hand while the ball bounces once.

8. In "Knocks" the player must knock on the floor once, pick up the jack and then catch the ball.

9. "Double Bounce" is played, as the name tells you, by letting the ball bounce twice before you catch it.

10. "Around the World" is more difficult. You must throw the ball in the air, pick up a jack and circle the ball with your hand before you catch it.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure all the jacks are picked up after playing. They sure do hurt when stepped on with bare feet!

Resources

• Strong National Museum of Play

[maryellen1001]

on 1/30/2009 I love Jacks! You've given really good instructions for playing!